Chain link



Jan. 9, 1968 w. T. B-RADSHAW 3,362,522

.CHAIN LINK Filed March 4. 1966 2| INVENTOR. H 5 WILLIAM T. BRADSHAW BY 6% m United States Patent 3,362,522 CHAIN LINK William T. Bradshaw, Canton, Ga, assignor to Bramco Inc, Canton, (2a., a corporation of Georgia Filed Mar. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 531,883 18 Claims. (Cl. 198-189) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A chain link comprising an integral body having a transverse front edge, opposed inwardly tapering side edges extending rearwardly from the ends of the front edge, and a substantially U-shaped pintle portion extending rearwardly from said side edges. A pair of flanges are struck upwardly from the integral body to create receiving apertures therebehind. Immediately in front of the flanges are a pair of depressions forming receiving pockets on their upper surface and skids on their lower surface. A semi-circular pivot plate is struck upwardly from the front edge and a retaining plate extends upwardly and forwardly from the body toward the pivot plate.

This invention relates to feed chains, and more particularly, to an improved link for a feed chain used in conveying granular material such as poultry feed and the like.

Such chains for conveying granular material have been well known for many years, as evidenced by the U8. Patents No. 2,811,857, No. 2,789,439, and No. 2,889,915. In such prior art structures the links may be assembled or disassembled as desired; however, they frequently be come disengaged after assembly and in shipment. Furthermore, considerable friction and resulting travel resistance and wear take place betwen the links and the feed trough through which they travel. The sharp angular corners of the links frequently bind in the curvatures of the trough, and gouging and mutilation of the pulleys or guides take place, while free pivotal movement between links is inhibited. The feed-carrying capacity of such links is also limited.

In general terms the feed chain of the present invention may be defined as including a plurality of substantially identical links joined end to end. Each link may be conveniently struck from heavy gauge metal in a series of die forming operations, leaving little Waste metal. Each link comprises an integral generally U-shaped body with the normally open mouth of the U closed by a broad transverse cross bar presenting the leading edge of the link. The rear portion of each link defines a rounded pintle member merging, by opposed outwardly-extending sweeps, with the trailing edges of the cross bar. The central open portion of the body is formed by a tongue extending upwardly and then forwardly toward a pivot plate deformed upwardly from the central forward portion of the cross bar. The tongue thus forms a retaining plate and backstop to confine the pintle member of the next adjacent link.

Adjacent the central opening of the link, formed by the upwardly-extending tongue, two openings in the cross bar provide two upstanding flanges, one on each side of the tongue. In advance of each flange there is provided an elongated indentation formed by a depression of the body of the link. Such indentations form grain pockets on the upper face of the linkand wear resistant glide surfaces on the under face of the link. Intermediate its forward and rear ends, transverse bends of the legs of the U provide horizontally offset body portions having vertically spaced parallel portions. The :pintle member constituting the upper portion of one link is adapted to be received over and rest on the cross bar included in the lower portion of the next adjacent link, the retaining plate of the tongue extending over the pintle member to prevent inadvertent separation of the links.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a chain structure, inexpensive in manufacture, durable in structure, and efficient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide more enhanced grain delivering capacity for each link.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the frictional contact of the link with the feed trough as well as binding and gouging between the links and guide pulleys.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for maximum efliciency and strength and to reduce strain on the system.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the link;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the link;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the link;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a pair of joined links;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the chain in operation around a guide pulley. 3

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects, the present invention is not limited to the exact details herein depicted. Numeral 10 denotes generally the body of the link of the present invention. The body 10 is preferably formed of heavy gauge sheet metal or like rigid material, and includes a transversely disposed front cross bar 11 having a substantially straight front leading edge 12 and a pair of inwardly-inclined side edges 13 and 14 angled toward the longitudinal centerline of the body 10'. The corners 15 and 16, formed at the juncture of the side edges 13 and 14 and the opposed ends of the cross bar 11, are arcuately rounded to avoid binding between the links and a feed trough T of conventional construction. The forward ends of arcuate, substantially quarter round trailing edges 17 and 18, join the rearward ends of the side edges 13 and 14 at the arcuately rounded corners 19 and 20 respectively. These arcuate corners and the angled side edges 13 and 14 together prevent the links from scoring and mutilating guide pulleys P when in operation around same, as indicated in FIGURE 5.

Joining the rearmost ends of the arcuate trailing edges 1'7 and 18, is an arcuate semicircular pintle member 21 defining an outer edge 22 and an inner edge 23, concentric with each other. The ends of outer edge 22 merge with the rear ends of the arcuate trailing edges 17 and 18, while the ends of inner edge 23 merge with inner edges 24 and 25. The inner edges 21 and 25 are parallel to, and on opposite sides of, the longitudinal centerline of the link. Thus, there is provided a U-shaped member integrally joined by its ends to the cross bar 11. The inner edges 23, 24 and 25 define, with the transversely extending inner edge 26 of the cross bar 11, a central longitudinally elongated slot 27.

In the central portion of the front edge 12 of the cross bar 11 is a pivot assembly adapted to receive and slidably retain the pintle member 21 of the next forwardly adjacent link. The pivot assembly includes an upwardlyextending, rearWardly-arcuate pivot plate 38, struck upwardly from the central portion of front edge 12. The pivot plate 51) defines a rear surface 31, of essentially the same or a slightiy smaller radius than the radius of inner edge 23, and a front concaved surface 32 concentric with, and of a smaller radius than the convex rear surface 31 of a. pivot plate 39. The pivot plate 3t) has straight or slightly concaved opposed side edges 33 and 34.

The pivot assembly also includes a confining member or tongue 35 preventing rearward movement and the inadvertent dislodgment of the pintle member 21 of one link from the pivot assembly of another. The tongue includes an upstanding backstop 36', disposed centrally of the body projecting up from edge 26' of cross bar 11. The upper end of backstop 36 is provided with a forwardly extending retaining plate 37, having a concaved end 38 disposed concentrically with and rearwardly adjacent the rear surface 31 of pivot plate 30. The cross bar 11, and retaining plate 37 are essentially parallel and are spaced sufiiciently from each other to define, with the pivot plate and backstop 3d, a confining area which receives therein the pintle member 21 of a next adjacent link.

The cross bar 11 defines lateral sweeps upon which grain or other feed travels. To increase the carrying capacity of each link, upright flanges 4d and 41 are struck from the cross bar 11, laterally spaced on either side of the pivot assembly. The flanges provide an upright pushing surface for urging material along the path of travel of the chain assembly. Being struck from the body of the cross bar 11, the flanges 40* and 41 also provide pockets for further grain. The flanges are substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the cross bar and parallel to the front edge 12.

Two elongated indentations 42 and 43 are provided substantially in front of the flanges 40 and 41 respectively. In the preferred embodiment shown here, these indentations are angled rearwardly at approximately 15 from the front edge 12. Each indentation is provided with an inner or upper surface 44', and an outer or lower surface 45. "These upper surfaces of the indentations cooperate with the flanges in urging grain along the path of the chain structure, by defining receiving pockets and aiding in the retention of grain on top of the chain. The lower surfaces 45, of the indentations 42 and 43, extend from the body 10, defining skids on which the links travel. The body 10 is thereby elevated off the trough T, and the skids, presenting less surface than the body of the link for sliding in the trough, provide for more efficient operation because of the reduced friction between the links and the trough. This raising of the body of the links off the trough T also prevents the grain from being ground into a powdery form.

Intermediate the length of the body 10 are two transverse bends 48 and 49, providing forward and rear parallel spaced portions. The forward portion is in vertical spaced relation below the rear portion. In the embodiment shown, the area 50, inclined at approximately 15 and defined between the bends 48 and 49, is disposed substantially adjacent the rear of cross bar 11. This offset in the body 10 allows the cross bar to travel in a substantially horizontal position when the links are engaged for operation.

Operation.

The continuous chain formed of a plurality of links joined end-to-end, as described hereinabove, is driven through a trough or other such receptacle by a conventional means. The chain slides on the skids 45, the main body of the link thereby being elevated from the bottom of the trough T. Since the skids present a relatively small surface area, as compared to the entire lower surface of the body of the link, friction is reduced between the chain and trough, consequently extending the life of the chain. The elevated position prevents any digging of the forward edge 12 into the trough. The offset design of the links provides for a straight pull between links for maximum efficiency and strength, and less strain on the entire chain system.

As the feed or other granular material is supplied into the trough, the chain urges it along in the direction of its travel. The grain is pushed by the pivot plate 36) and forward edge 12 of the cross bar 11, but does not grind the grain because of the chains raised position. The flanges 459 and 41 in conjunction with the elongated indentations 42 and 43, carry and/or push the grain through the trough, the indentations helping to retain the grain on top of the chain.

The present invention overcomes the difliculties that accompanied prior art chains (see FIG. 5). When rounding guide pulleys there is a tendency for these chains to deviate from a tangential relationship. In the present invention, the lateral sides are tapered back and the corners are arcuately rounded, as described herein'before. The arcuate forward corners prevent the chain links from digging into the pulley and sides of the trough as they engage. The side edges and rear corners, angled inward and arcuately rounded respectively, prevent the links from gouging or scoring the pulley, as they disengage from same.

It is to be noted that the invention is not limited nor confined to the specific structural details here presented, and that numerous changes, modifications, and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to in the practice of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof'as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. A chain link having an integral body defined by a transverse front edge, side edges extending rearwardly and angled inwardly from the ends of said front edge, concaved trailing edges extending rearwardly from said side edges, :1 terminal convex rear semi-circular edge, a pivot plate extending upward from the central portion of said transverse front edge, a retaining plate extending upwardly from said body and disposed in close proximity to said pivot plate, an elongated pintle opening extending rearwardly from said retaining plate and terminating in close concentric spaced relation to said terminal rear edge, arcuate corners defined between said transverse front edge and said side edges, arcuate corners defined between said side edges and said trailing edges, vertically off-set forward and rear body portions, said forward portion being in spaced relation below the rear portion, flanges extending upwardly from said body, said flanges disposed transversely on either side of said retaining plate, said flanges disposed substantially parallel to said front edge and perpendicular to said body, and indentations formed by depressions in said body, said indentations being disposed on either side of said pivot plate, said indentations being disposed forwardly of said flanges, said indentations being elongate and disposed at an angle from said front edge, said indentations forming receiving pockets on their upper surface and skids on their lower surface, and said skids supporting the link in operation.

2. A chain link comprising:

(a) an integral body defined by a transverse front edge;

(b) side edges extending rearwardly and angled inwardl from the ends of said front edge;

(e) concave trailing edges extending rearwardly from said side edges;

(d) a terminal convex rear semi-circular edge;

(e) a pivot plate extending upwardly from the central portion of said transverse front edge;

(f) a retaining plate extending upwardly from said body and disposed in close proximity to said pivot plate;

(f) an elongate pintle opening extending rearwardly from said retaining plate and terminating in close concentric spaced relation to said terminal rear semicircular edge; and

(h) indentations created by depressions in said body, said indentations forming receiving pockets on their upper surface and skids on their lower surface.

3. A chain link as recited in claim 2 wherein said indentations are elongate and are disposed at an angle from said front edge.

4. A chain link as recited in claim 2 wherein the skids support the link in operation.

S. A chain link as recited in claim 2 wherein said body includes flanges extending upwardly therefrom.

6. A chain link as recited in claim 5 wherein said flanges are positioned on side portions of said body and are disposed in parallel relationship to said front edge.

7. A chain link as recited in claim 5 wherein said body defines a slot positioned on the side of said retaining plate opposite to said transverse front edge and shaped to receive a pivot plate of an adjacent chain link of similar construction, said flanges being positioned between said slot and said front edge.

8. A chain link as recited in claim 5 wherein said flanges are disposed rearwardly of said indentations.

9. A chain link as recited in claim 2 wherein said body includes vertically off-set forward and rear portions.

10. A chain link as recited in claim 9 wherein said offset portions are longitudinally spaced.

11. A chain link as recited in claim 10 wherein said forward portion is in spaced relation below said rear portion.

12. A chain link comprising:

(a) a body having a front edge;

(b) a pivot plate extending upwardly from said front edge;

(c) a retaining late extending upwardly and forwardly from said body and being disposed in juxtaposition with said pivot plate; and

(d) indentations created by depressions in said body, said indentations forming receiving pockets on their upper surface and skids on their lower surface.

13. A chain link as recited in claim 12 wherein said body includes flanges extending upwardly from said body.

14. A chain link as recited in claim 13 wherein said flanges are positioned on side portions of said body and are disposed in parallel relationship to said front edge.

15. A chain link as recited in claim 12 wherein said body includes vertically off-set forward and rear portions.

16. A chain link as recited in claim 15 wherein said off-set portions are longitudinally spaced.

17. A chain link as recited in claim 16 wherein said forward portion is in spaced relation below said rear portion.

18. A chain link comprising:

(a) a body having a front edge, opposed side edges, and

a substantially U-shaped pintle rear portion;

(b) a pivot plate extending upwardly from said front edge;

(0) a retaining plate extending upwardly and forwardly from said body and being disposed in juxtaposition with said pivot plate; and

(d) flanges extending upwardly from said body and being disposed inwardly of said side edges, and apertures defined in said body rearwardly of said flanges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,189,164 6/1965 Robinson l98l89 X 3,225,895 12/1965 Reimers l98-l68 3,262,547 7/1966 McAuley 198-173 3,262,548 7/1966 McAuley 198-173 30 EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner. 

